There is an ongoing struggle between the United States and Iran. This involves our opposition to Iran’s continued enrichment of uranium and the development of nuclear weapons. Recently, Sheldon Adelson spoke about this at Yeshiva University in New York City.
The big Republican supporter and casino tycoon feels there is no place for negotiation with Iran and that the United States should use nuclear warfare. Adelson believes the United States should first launch a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead into the Iranian desert. He believes this action would shock the Iranian government into stopping their nuclear development. If it doesn’t work, the United States should then launch a nuclear attack on Tehran.
According to Adelson, the idea of detonating a nuclear bomb in the desert is a scare tactic. If the United States were to light up the unpopulated desert and Iran continued with their nuclear testing, then according to Adelson’s brilliance, the United States would turn Tehran into a wasteland.
President Obama has stressed that a military option remains open if sanctions fail to make Tehran end its enriched uranium program. Many believe that the United States can exercise a right under customary international law of "pro-active self-defense.” Article 51 of the United Nations charter also describes this right among nations. There is,
however, a debate on what constitutes a pro-active strike against another country. A pro-active strike on Tehran using nuclear weapons would kill many civilians.
Throughout our history, the United States military has been accused of and in some cases guilty of targeting the civilian population - many being women and children. During WWII, numerous bombing raids over Europe and Japan showed this. Today, the United States military has a policy on preventing civilian casualties. Under the rules of law you can only target civilians if they are directly participating in hostilities. I believe our soldiers value life and avoid civilian casualties – no one hates war and death like the
American soldier.
After 9/11, the United States chose to invade Iraq because of a threat of weapons of mass destruction. This attack was accomplished by conventional warfare, not with nuclear weapons. Although there were unfortunate civilian casualties, there would have been far
greater civilian death and misery with the use of nuclear warfare.
In 1937, the State Department condemned Japan for the bombing of Chinese cities
saying "Any general bombing of an extensive area wherein there resides a large population engaged in peaceful pursuits is unwarranted and contrary to the principles of law and humanity.” President Roosevelt called the bombing of civilians “inhuman barbarism.” Ironically, eight years later in 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to end WWII. The effects were catastrophic to thousands of Japanese civilians.
At the time of the bombing, Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a combined population of
560,000. About 180,000 people died immediately or within four months of the
bombing. The causes of death resulted from the collapse of structures, fire,
radiation exposure and intense heat. There is evidence that exposure to atomic
radiation caused gene mutation and birth defects.
Mr. Adelson is wrong. Nuclear weapons should not be used. Since the destruction of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world has refrained from using atomic warfare. There
is no doubt that using nuclear weapons on Tehran would cause countless civilian
casualties - possibly one hundred or more times greater than the tragedy on 9/11. The loss of 3,000 lives in New York City greatly affected this country. They were civilians, innocent souls – our family. That loss of innocent live was inexcusable. To inflict death and destruction on the innocence of Iran is unacceptable.
The big Republican supporter and casino tycoon feels there is no place for negotiation with Iran and that the United States should use nuclear warfare. Adelson believes the United States should first launch a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead into the Iranian desert. He believes this action would shock the Iranian government into stopping their nuclear development. If it doesn’t work, the United States should then launch a nuclear attack on Tehran.
According to Adelson, the idea of detonating a nuclear bomb in the desert is a scare tactic. If the United States were to light up the unpopulated desert and Iran continued with their nuclear testing, then according to Adelson’s brilliance, the United States would turn Tehran into a wasteland.
President Obama has stressed that a military option remains open if sanctions fail to make Tehran end its enriched uranium program. Many believe that the United States can exercise a right under customary international law of "pro-active self-defense.” Article 51 of the United Nations charter also describes this right among nations. There is,
however, a debate on what constitutes a pro-active strike against another country. A pro-active strike on Tehran using nuclear weapons would kill many civilians.
Throughout our history, the United States military has been accused of and in some cases guilty of targeting the civilian population - many being women and children. During WWII, numerous bombing raids over Europe and Japan showed this. Today, the United States military has a policy on preventing civilian casualties. Under the rules of law you can only target civilians if they are directly participating in hostilities. I believe our soldiers value life and avoid civilian casualties – no one hates war and death like the
American soldier.
After 9/11, the United States chose to invade Iraq because of a threat of weapons of mass destruction. This attack was accomplished by conventional warfare, not with nuclear weapons. Although there were unfortunate civilian casualties, there would have been far
greater civilian death and misery with the use of nuclear warfare.
In 1937, the State Department condemned Japan for the bombing of Chinese cities
saying "Any general bombing of an extensive area wherein there resides a large population engaged in peaceful pursuits is unwarranted and contrary to the principles of law and humanity.” President Roosevelt called the bombing of civilians “inhuman barbarism.” Ironically, eight years later in 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to end WWII. The effects were catastrophic to thousands of Japanese civilians.
At the time of the bombing, Hiroshima and Nagasaki had a combined population of
560,000. About 180,000 people died immediately or within four months of the
bombing. The causes of death resulted from the collapse of structures, fire,
radiation exposure and intense heat. There is evidence that exposure to atomic
radiation caused gene mutation and birth defects.
Mr. Adelson is wrong. Nuclear weapons should not be used. Since the destruction of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world has refrained from using atomic warfare. There
is no doubt that using nuclear weapons on Tehran would cause countless civilian
casualties - possibly one hundred or more times greater than the tragedy on 9/11. The loss of 3,000 lives in New York City greatly affected this country. They were civilians, innocent souls – our family. That loss of innocent live was inexcusable. To inflict death and destruction on the innocence of Iran is unacceptable.
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